Teachers call for ban on energy drinks in all schools as they cause disruption in classes
The call comes after new research found some energy drinks were now as cheap as 25p and children as young as 10 reportedly bought them to 'fit in and look tough'
TRENDY energy drinks should be banned from schools because they are “legal highs” which contribute to “bad behaviour”, says a top teaching union.
The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) says the stimulants in the drinks also have side effects such as headaches and palpitations.
Teachers are now demanding schools introduce a blanket ban after research found children were buying them because they’re cheaper than water.
It follows a report by academics,, calling on the government to consider making the sale of the drinks illegal to under-16s.
The NASUWT dubbed energy drinks “readily available legal highs” as they contain huge amounts of sugar and caffeine.
Some energy drinks were now as cheap as 25p and children as young as 10 reportedly bought them to “fit in” or “look tough”.
A single 500ml can can be cheaper than a bottle of water and contains 160mg of caffeine which is the same as two shots of espresso coffee.
This is well above the 105mg a day limit recommended by the European Food Safety Authority for children aged 11.
Darren Northcott, NASUWT education official, said: “Teachers have registered concerns with the NASUWT about the contribution of high energy drinks to poor pupil behaviour as a result of pupils consuming excessive quantities of these drinks.
“They are popular among young people who often think they are just another soft drink, and young people and parents are often not aware of the very high levels of stimulants that these drinks contain.
“They are readily available legal highs sold in vending machines, supermarkets and corner shops.”
On average, young people in the UK consume more energy drinks than those in other European countries.
Sales of the drinks in the UK increased by 185 per cent between 2006 and 2015, with 672 million litres drunk in 2015 and a total market value of over £2 billion.
In a statement, the British Soft Drinks Association, which represents manufacturers, said: “Energy drinks and their ingredients have been deemed safe by regulatory authorities around the world.
“In 2010 we introduced a voluntary Code of Practice to support consumers who want to make informed choices. In 2015 this was updated to include more stringent guidelines around marketing and promoting, including reference to in and around schools.”